Founder of the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP) Abhijeet Dipke and All India Students’ Association (AISA) activist Neha Bora were arrested by Delhi Police Friday and their arrest comes amid preparations for ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ march in the national capital.
Dipke was nabbed as he made his way toward Connaught Place towards the planned protests, and Bora was arrested approximately 150 meters after the march started, near Mandi House.
Previously, Delhi Police had issued a notice to Dipke, informing him that Connaught Place wasn’t a notified protest area and requesting him not to proceed with the march. CJP has instructed its supporters as well as the general public to hold the electoral roll with a sense of protest against the allegations regarding tampering of the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Also joining the protest are CJP members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka who were remanded in custody. On Oct 13, the same day Jantar Mantar was declared as a protest place, the two were arrested after entering the spot waving the national flag.
Before the planned demonstration, Delhi Police has deployed police personnel in large numbers all over the Lutyens, Delhi area. The mobilisation of over 6,000 manpower personnel was expected from various districts; the other 5,000 personnel were reserved.
At Connaught Place markets, Rajiv Chowk, Central Park, surrounding metro stations, Jantar Mantar and Palika Bazaar, security was also to be beefed up.
In the meanwhile, CJP had sought permission from the Mumbai Police to hold its ‘Lehra Do Tiranga’ at Azad Maidan. The assembly, which was slated to start from 10am, was to demonstrate solidarity with jailed party members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka.
The conflicting reports from the two cities followed the organisation’s campaign on the issue of revisions in the electoral rolls and its claims of arrests.